Indonesia: Death Toll in Mount Semeru Volcano Rises to 14

Published December 6th, 2021 - 09:55 GMT
Death Toll in Mount Semeru Volcano Rises to 14
Villagers salvage what they can from their damaged homes at Sumber Wuluh village in Lumajang on December 6, 2021, following a volcanic eruption from Mount Semeru that killed a least fourteen people. (Photo by Juni Kriswanto / AFP)
Highlights
At least 14 dead after Mount Semeru volcano eruption in Indonesia

About 14 people were killed and dozens others have been injured after the Mount Semeru volcano in Indonesia erupted.

In a statement Sunday, Abdul Mihari, acting head of the Center for Disaster Information and Communication Data, said 11 people died in the Pronojiwo District while three more died in the Candipuro District.

Victims identified ranged in age from 14 to 50 years old.

An additional 21 injuries were reported Sunday, bringing the total of injured people to 56. Two pregnant women were among the injured.

 

Nine people remain missing and 1,300 people have been displaced, the agency said.

The volcano erupted on Saturday as Indah Amperawati Masdar, the deputy head of East Java's Lumajang District, said lava flows destroyed the village of Curahkobokan and evacuation efforts were complicated by the destruction of a bridge connecting Curahkobokan to the nearby village of Pronojiwo.

Officials on Sunday said the situation near the volcano remained dangerous as there was a risk of pyroclastic flows -- a mix of ash, rock and volcanic gases.

"We recommend everyone to increase their alert because the potential of pyroclastic flows threat is still high," Cheif of the Mount Semeru Observation Post, Liswanto, told CNN. "It can happen anytime without any warning."

People living within six miles of the volcano have been urged to evacuate, Liswanto added.

This article has been adapted from its original source.


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